From pick-up, it is crutial that you spend as much time with your pup trying to develope a close bond. After the pup has bonded with you, it is time to introduce the pup to new things and people.
From two to three months work with your pup and teach it basic commands. This is the ideal time to teach your pup the: here, sit, and etc commands. It is also a good time to get the pup acustom to wearing a collor and being put on a leash. Once your pup has reached about three months of age it is also a good idea to introduce your pup to the woods allowing it to venture out and explore. At first keep your walks short and sweet. Ten to thirty mintues of woods time is ideal and more than enough for these first few months of development. Try not to exceed these time amounts or you can easily get your pup burnt out. You want to keep these trips to the woods exciting and pleasurable for your pup!
As listed above, keep your trips to the woods frequent but short. This will help build the confidence and developement of your pup. At three months your pup is also ready to be introduced to a dead squirrel. Take the dead squirrel and make a drag and let your pup work it. Once your pup has located the squirrel, in a low lying limb, shake it and encourage your pup. This should help bring the excitement level of your pup up and hopefully get it to bark. (however, do not get frustrated or give up if your pup doesn't start barking right away) After you have done this a few times, catch a squirrel in a live trap and allow your pup to bark at it on the ground. Let it bark for a few mintues and then pull your cage up the tree, but allow the squirrel to remain in plain site for your pup. DO NOT OVER DO!!! I usually let my pups see a caged squirrel one or two times and thats it! Once all of these things have been completed, the only thing left to do is to give your pup WOODS TIME!!! This is the most important thing you can do for your pup. These pups are bred well enough that woods time alone will result in a squirrel dog, but a few of these tricks listed above will help speed the process up and will also allow us trainers with a sense of enjoyment and pleasure watching our pups grow.
